Inductive position sensor with integrated led indicators

Abstract

A system for use in association with a mechanical transmission, including a gear selector lever movable between a plurality of shift positions corresponding to respective transmission settings, an inductive position sensor that senses a shift position of the gear selector lever, and a visual indicator that provides a visual indication of the selected transmission setting. The position sensor includes inductive sensor elements electromagnetically coupled together and sensor circuitry integrated onto a circuit board which generates a sensor output signal corresponding to the shift position of the gear selector lever. The visual indicator includes an indicator panel having alphanumeric characters that designate respective transmission settings, a plurality of LEDs integrated onto the circuit board and positioned adjacent respective ones of the alphanumeric characters, and control circuitry that provides a control signal in response to the sensor output signal which illuminates or brightens an LED positioned adjacent a respective one of the alphanumeric characters corresponding to the selected transmission setting.

1 . A position sensing and visual indication system for use in association with a mechanical transmission, comprising:
 a transmission gear shifter mechanism including a gear selector lever movable between a plurality of predetermined shift positions corresponding to respective transmission settings;   an inductive position sensor configured to sense a relative shift position of said selector lever associated with a selected one of said transmission settings, said inductive position sensor comprising:
 a first inductive sensor element mechanically coupled to said selector lever; 
 a second inductive sensor element electromagnetically coupled to said first sensor element; and 
 inductive position sensor circuitry integrated onto a primary circuit board, wherein movement of said selector lever between said plurality of predetermined shift positions correspondingly displaces said first sensor element relative to said second sensor element, and wherein said first and second sensor elements cooperate to generate a sensor output signal corresponding to a position of said first sensor element relative to said second sensor element which in turn corresponds to said shift position of said selector lever associated with said selected transmission setting; and 
   a visual indicator configured to provide a visually perceptible indication of said selected transmission setting, said visual indicator comprising:
 an indicator panel including alphanumeric characters positioned adjacent corresponding ones of said predetermined shift positions of said selector lever, said alphanumeric characters designating said respective transmission settings; 
 a plurality of light emitting diodes positioned adjacent respective ones of said alphanumeric characters; and 
 indicator control circuitry associated with said light emitting diodes, said control circuitry providing an indicator control signal in response to said sensor output signal, wherein one of said light emitting diodes positioned adjacent a respective one of said alphanumeric characters corresponding to said selected transmission setting is illuminated or brightened in response to said indicator control signal. 
   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes are positioned in close proximity to said inductive position sensor circuitry. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes are integrated directly onto said primary circuit board. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein one of said first and second sensor elements includes excitation and sensor circuitry, and wherein the other of said first and second sensor elements includes radio frequency resonator circuitry, said radio frequency resonator circuitry electromagnetically coupled to said excitation and sensor circuitry such that displacement of said first sensor element relative to said second sensor element results in displacement of said radio frequency resonator circuitry relative to said excitation and sensor circuitry which in turn generates said sensor output signal corresponding to said shift position of said selector lever associated with said selected transmission setting. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said first sensor element that is mechanically coupled to said selector lever includes said radio frequency resonator circuitry. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein said excitation and sensor circuitry is integrated onto said primary circuit board, said light emitting diodes positioned proximately adjacent said excitation and sensor circuitry. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein said sensor circuitry includes an inductive sense coil extending peripherally about an inner sensor region with said excitation circuitry including at least one inductive transmit coil positioned within said inner sensor region, and wherein said light emitting diodes are positioned within said inner sensor region proximately adjacent said at least one inductive transmit coil. 
   
   
       8 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein said inductive position sensor circuitry integrated onto said primary circuit board includes an inductive coil track extending peripherally about an inner sensor region; and
 wherein said light emitting diodes are positioned within said inner sensor region defined by said inductive coil track.   
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein said inductive position sensor circuitry includes a sense coil defining said inner sensor region, said inductive position sensor circuitry further including a sine-shaped transmit coil and a cosine-shaped transmit coil positioned within said inner sensor region defined by said sense coil, said sine-shaped transmit coil and said cosine-shaped transmit coil overlapping one another to define boundaries surrounding a plurality of discrete areas within said inner sensor region; and
 wherein said light emitting diodes are positioned within said discrete areas bound by said sine-shaped transmit coil and said cosine-shaped transmit coil.   
   
   
       10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said inductive position sensor circuitry integrated onto said primary circuit board includes a plurality of inductive coil tracks extending along a first side of said primary circuit board; and
 wherein said light emitting diodes are integrated directly onto a second side of said primary circuit board opposite said first side including said plurality of inductive coil tracks.   
   
   
       11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said inductive position sensor circuitry integrated onto said primary circuit board includes a plurality of inductive coil tracks extending along a first side of said primary circuit board; and
 wherein said indicator control circuitry includes LED indicator tracks electrically coupled to said light emitting diodes, said LED indicator tracks extending along a second side of said primary circuit board opposite said first side including said plurality of inductive coil tracks.   
   
   
       12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein said indicator control circuitry includes a plurality of resistive LED control elements; and
 wherein said resistive LED control elements are mounted to said second side of said primary circuit board opposite said first side including said plurality of inductive coil tracks.   
   
   
       13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first sensor element that is mechanically coupled to said selector lever is displaceable along a first side of said primary circuit board; and
 wherein said light emitting diodes are integrated onto a second side of said primary circuit board opposite said first side.   
   
   
       14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said indicator control circuitry is integrated onto said primary circuit board. 
   
   
       15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein said indicator control circuitry includes a plurality of resistive LED control elements; and
 wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes and said plurality of resistive LED control elements are integrated directly onto said primary circuit board and are positioned proximately adjacent said inductive position sensor circuitry on said primary circuit board.   
   
   
       16 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said primary circuit board has an L-shaped configuration including a base section and an elongate section extending generally perpendicular from said base section; and
 wherein said inductive position sensor circuitry includes a sense coil extending peripherally about an inner sensor region and at least one transmit coil positioned within said inner sensor region, and wherein said sensor and transmit coils extend along said elongate section of said primary circuit board with said light emitting diodes integrated onto said elongate section of said primary circuit board adjacent said sensor and transmit coils; and   further comprising one or more electronic control units mounted to said base portion of said primary circuit board at a location more remote from said sensor and transmit coils than said light emitting diodes.   
   
   
       17 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a position sensor control unit electrically coupled to said inductive position sensor circuitry; and   an LED control unit electrically coupled to said indicator control circuitry; and   wherein said position sensor control unit and said LED control unit cooperate to provide said indicator control signal to said one of said light emitting diodes.   
   
   
       18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a first of said light emitting diodes emits a first color of light, and wherein a second of said light emitting diodes emits a second color of light different from said first color of light. 
   
   
       19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said light emitting diodes selectively emits at least two different colors of light. 
   
   
       20 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said inductive position sensor comprises a uni-axial position sensor with said gear selector lever movable along a single axis of travel between said plurality of predetermined shift positions corresponding to said respective transmission settings. 
   
   
       21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said inductive position sensor comprises a multi-axial position sensor with said gear selector lever movable along at least two axes of travel between said plurality of predetermined shift positions corresponding to said respective transmission settings. 
   
   
       22 . A position sensing and visual indication system for use in association with a mechanical transmission, comprising:
 a transmission gear shifter mechanism including a gear selector lever movable between a plurality of predetermined shift positions corresponding to respective transmission settings;   an inductive position sensor configured to sense a relative shift position of said selector lever associated with a selected one of said transmission settings, said inductive position sensor comprising:
 a movable inductive sensor element including radio frequency resonator circuitry, said movable inductive sensor element mechanically coupled to said selector lever; and 
 a stationary inductive sensor element including excitation and sensor circuitry integrated onto a primary circuit board, said excitation and sensor circuitry electromagnetically coupled to said radio frequency resonator circuitry; and 
 wherein movement of said selector lever correspondingly displaces said movable sensor element relative to said stationary sensor element, and wherein said excitation and sensor circuitry and said radio frequency resonator circuitry cooperate to generate a sensor output signal corresponding to a position of said movable sensor element relative to said stationary sensor element which in turn corresponds to said shift position of said selector lever associated with said selected transmission setting; and 
   a visual indicator configured to provide a visually perceptible indication of said selected transmission setting, said visual indicator comprising:
 an indicator panel including alphanumeric characters positioned adjacent corresponding ones of said predetermined shift positions, said alphanumeric characters designating said respective transmission settings; 
 a plurality of light emitting diodes positioned adjacent respective ones of said alphanumeric characters; and 
 indicator control circuitry associated with said light emitting diodes, said control circuitry generating an indicator control signal in response to said sensor output signal, wherein one of said light emitting diodes positioned adjacent a respective one of said alphanumeric characters corresponding to said selected transmission setting is illuminated or brightened in response to said indicator control signal. 
   
   
   
       23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes are positioned in close proximity to said excitation and sensor circuitry. 
   
   
       24 . The system of  claim 23 , wherein said plurality of light emitting diodes are integrated directly onto said primary circuit board. 
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said sensor circuitry includes an inductive sense coil extending peripherally about an inner sensor region with said excitation circuitry including at least one inductive transmit coil positioned within said inner sensor region, and wherein said light emitting diodes are positioned within said inner sensor region proximately adjacent said at least one inductive transmit coil. 
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one inductive transmit coil includes a sine-shaped transmit coil and a cosine-shaped transmit coil positioned within said inner sensor region defined by said sense coil, said sine-shaped transmit coil and said cosine-shaped transmit coil overlapping one another to define boundaries surrounding a plurality of discrete areas within said inner sensor region; and
 wherein said light emitting diodes are positioned within said discrete areas bound by said sine-shaped transmit coil and said cosine-shaped transmit coil.   
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said excitation and sensor circuitry integrated onto said primary circuit board includes a plurality of inductive coil tracks extending along a first side of said primary circuit board; and
 wherein said light emitting diodes are integrated onto a second side of said primary circuit board opposite said first side including said plurality of inductive coil tracks.   
   
   
       28 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein said excitation and sensor circuitry integrated onto said primary circuit board includes a plurality of inductive coil tracks extending along a first side of said primary circuit board; and
 wherein said indicator control circuitry includes LED indicator tracks electrically coupled to said light emitting diodes, said LED indicator tracks extending along a second side of said primary circuit board opposite said first side including said plurality of inductive coil tracks.